Downton Abbey to take on Doctor Who at National Television Awards

ITV’s Downton Abbey is set to take on BBC’s Doctor Who in the battle for top drama at the National Television Awards tonight, while
Matt Smith and
Karen Gillan are also nominated for best male and female performance.

Doctor Who will go head-to-head with Downton Abbey at the National Television Awards as its stars Matt Smith (R), who plays The Doctor and Karen Gillan (2nd R), who plays Amy Pond, are nominated for best male and female performance (Picture: ITV/BBC)

The period drama – which has been shortlisted for the first time – is also up against last year’s winner Waterloo Road and Merlin.

And the Time Lord’s sidekick Gillan – set to be axed from the show in the next series – goes up against Torchwood’s Eve Myles, Jaye Jacobs (Waterloo Road) and Suranne Jones (Scott & Bailey) for the acting honours.

This year’s awards will be packed with performances from stars including X Factor winners Little Mix as well as the Military Wives, who took the Christmas number one spot following their appearance on BBC’s The Choir: Military Wives.

Today it was revealed that I’m A Celebrity presenters Ant and Dec will also be taking to the stage tonight, dusting off their singing skills to perform Nat King Cole’s Let There Be Love with Strictly Come Dancing presenter Sir Bruce Forsyth.

Ant and Dec have taken a break from BGT to sing at the NTAs (Picture: PA)

A source told The Sun: ‘Brucie has agreed to perform a song from his new album as he said he’s always wanted to play the O2.

‘He’ll be joined by two very special faces from the TV industry that most people should know.

‘If I were a telly fan, I’d be sure to tune in.’

Ant and Dec will be hoping to bag the top entertainment presenter prize for the 11th consecutive year as they go up against the Awards’ host Dermot O’Leary , Celebrity Juice’s Keith Lemon and comedian Michael McIntyre.

McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow is also up for the best entertainment programme and will be competing against Take Me Out , Dynamo: Magician Impossible and Harry Hill’s TV Burp.

Dermot O’Leary is hosting this year’s awards (Picture: ITV)

Meanwhile, I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! will take on Come Dine With Me, The Apprentice and The Only Way is Essex for the top reality show.

X Factor and Strictly Come Dancing will once again go head-to-head for top talent show alongside Britain’s Got Talent and Dancing On Ice.

Jonathan Ross, Graham Norton, Alan Carr and the Loose Women will also battle it out for the best talk show.

The shortlist for the serial drama performance features two Coronation Street stars – Katherine Kelly and Alison King – as well as Emmerdale’s Danny Miller and Jessie Wallace as Kat Slater from EastEnders.